Husker LB played with ACL issue in first career start, done for ’12

This past Saturday, Zaire Anderson started his first game at the FBS level in Nebraska’s 29-point win over Arkansas State.

Unfortunately, and with a bizarre twist, it’ll be the last game the linebacker starts in 2012.

NU head coach Bo Pelini confirmed Tuesday that Anderson (pictured, No. 8) has a torn ACL and will miss the remainder of the 2012 season. The odd part is, however, the JUCO transfer didn’t suffer the injury in the ASU game; rather, he heard his knee pop last Tuesday during a practice leading up to the game and figured he could plow his way through the knee issue.

While, obviously, he played following the pop, a subsequent MRI revealed the sound the player heard was actually an ACL issue that led to the diagnosis of a tear.

Anderson said he was “devastated” by the injury news. Pelini, who dealt with his own health issue over the weekend, expressed surprise at the injury development.

“It is unfortunate for him,” Pelini said in quotes released by the school. “He is really coming along, but it is what it is, he will recover fully. It was a surprise to all of us.”